Advertisement

DARPA tests Sea Hunter sub-tracking drone

Agency's Continuous Trail Unmanned Vessel, or ACTUV, recently underwent testing off the California coast.

By Geoff Ziezulewicz

WASHINGTON, Oct. 25 (UPI) -- The U.S. Defense Research Advanced Projects Agency's Continuous Trail Unmanned Vessel, or ACTUV, was recently tested off the California coast, the agency said Monday.

The ACTUV prototype, christened Sea Hunter, underwent testing in open waters and seeks to pave the way for a new kind of vessel that can travel long distances, unmanned, for a month at a time, the agency said in a statement.

Advertisement

ACTUV's missions could include submarine tracking and counter-mine activities.

The ACTUV prototype had the agency's Towed Airborne Lift of Naval Systems, or TALONS, array on board, which could be towed behind boats or ships while conducting intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions at heights of up to 1,500 feet, higher than current ship masts.

Over two when TALONS was flown for 90 minutes each day, the prototype started nested on the ACTUV before expanding its parachute and rising to 1,000 feet.

After its sensors and communications equipment were tested, it reeled itself back into the nest.

TALONS showcased a radio and sensor range that was six times what such arrays can reach at sea level, the agency said.

DARPA reached an agreement with the U.S. Navy to jointly fund the ACTUV prototype in 2014.

Advertisement

A christening ceremony was held in April to mark the vessels transition from a DARPA-led project to open water testing with the Navy.

It could transition fully to the sea service by 2018.

Latest Headlines